Remarks by President Chen Shui-bian at the Opening Ceremony of the First Global Forum on New Democracies
January 25, 2008
Speaker Wang, host of the First Global Forum on New Democracies and President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy; Distinguished political leaders; Esteemed guests and scholars from home and abroad; Friends from the press; Ladies and gentlemen: Good morning and Happy Lunar New Year!
After two years of planning and preparation, the first Global Forum on New Democracies is finally taking place in Taipei. First of all, on behalf of the 23 million people and government of Taiwan, I want to extend my most sincere greetings and appreciation to participating political leaders and friends. Your involvement and support means that our shared expectations and promises can be fulfilled. We have established an ad hoc platform for exchanging views and a mechanism for cooperation, which will allow new democracies to actively promote democratic development around the world.
Over the past two years, we have witnessed a military coup in Thailand, the cruel repression of monks by the Burmese junta, the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader during an election campaign, and a large-scale uprising resulting from election disputes in Kenya. On the other hand, however, we have also seen a successful presidential election in South Korea that produced a new national leader. And here in Taiwan, also, we recently held fiercely competed but fair, just and open congressional elections, as well as two nationwide referendums. As such, we can see that democracy's decline and failure co-exist alongside its consolidation and deepening. Democracy's development is not necessarily smooth. Indeed, in some countries, such as with the Prague Spring in 1968, it faded away soon after gloriously bursting forth. Yet in others, it is like a rising sun whose rays of light cast away the dark shadows of authoritarianism.
In the 1980s, the world witnessed the painstaking struggle of people pursuing freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe, as well as the student demonstrations in Kwangju in South Korea. In the 1990s, we saw reconciliation in South Africa and the democracy movement blossomed all over the world. These events compelled the people of Taiwan to pursue democracy, freedom, human rights and justice. In 1987, the martial law that had been in place for 38 years was lifted. In 1992, the entire National Assembly was re-elected. In 1996, Taiwan held its first presidential election and the first transition of power between political parties was completed in 2000. And then, in 2004, Taiwan held its first nationwide referendum. It is evident that the success of democracy in a country or in a region often provides the impetus for a whole wave of democratization. Yet meanwhile, setbacks to democracy, no matter the scope or however short-lived, are a failure of and a loss for the global community of democracies.
As a role model and example of success among new democracies, we have the responsibility and the obligation to share our experiences, to share our successes and failures, and to share even the more painful of lessons, with all people who love freedom and democracy. Through various cooperative projects, we can actively promote democracy around the world, especially in countries where democracy is newly developing, so that it might take root and grow strong.
As we devote ourselves to the democracy movement, authoritarianism sometimes seems like a solid wall that cannot be shaken. In comparison, however, the power of democracy is more akin to tiny drops of dew at dawn. Yet deep down, people aspire to be free and insist on justice, and that same glistening dew can turn into a stream, and then into a gushing river. With this force behind them, all people can break free from their shackles to become their own masters. I believe that the Global Forum on New Democracies established today provides a fresh wellspring of vitality for global democratic development, which will continuously be a source of nourishment wherever the seeds of democracy are sown. This will allow democracy to become a shared language and common practice for all mankind in the 21st Century, and will lay a solid foundation for everlasting peace on earth. Thank you!